Beloved brethren, the importance of prayer in our lives can never be overstated. As with any relationship, if we wish to draw near to God, we must communicate. He communicates to us through His word and by His Spirit, and we communicate with Him through prayer.

In our flesh, we tend to pray when we are in need, when we struggle, when situations seem dire. Yet we ought also to pray when we are well, when we are blessed, when all seems right.

Thus, Paul urges us, “pray at all times” (Eph. 6:18). We are to come to God with our needs. We are to come to God to make petition for others. We are to pray for all men (1 Tim. 2:1), and for those in government (1 Tim. 2:2). We are to pray for the sick (Jas. 5:16). We are to pray for our enemies, for those who persecute us (Mt. 5:44). We are to come to God with our anxieties, our concerns, with thanksgiving and praise.

Clearly this does not mean we need to join a monastery, nor spend 24 hours per day, 7 days per week on our knees. What it does mean is that, inasmuch as possible, we are to recognize God’s presence in our lives at all times. We are to take time to separate ourselves and pray, as Jesus Himself often did (Lk. 5:16).

Realize also that our prayers aren’t simply about getting what we ask for. Prayers are not quarters, and God is not a cosmic candy dispenser. God does answer prayer, though not always as we wish. But the end goal of prayer shouldn’t be to bend God to our will, but to conform our will to His, and thus to be conformed to the likeness of Christ who prayed, “not as I will, but as you will” (Mt. 26:39; Lk. 22:42).

Let us therefore humble ourselves before the mighty hand of God and cast our anxiety on Him, because He cares for us (1 Pet. 5:6-7). Let us come to Him, not harboring worry, but giving thanks, presenting to Him our requests and He will give us a peace that surpasses all understanding (Phil. 4:6-7). Let us pray at all times that we might draw near to Him, and He will draw near to us (Jas. 4:8).

——————
Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Morning, February 6

"Praying always." Ephesians 6:18

What multitudes of prayers we have put up from the first moment when we learned to pray. Our first prayer was a prayer for ourselves; we asked that God would have mercy upon us, and blot out our sin. He heard us. But when He had blotted out our sins like a cloud, then we had more prayers for ourselves. We have had to pray for sanctifying grace, for constraining and restraining grace; we have been led to crave for a fresh assurance of faith, for the comfortable application of the promise, for deliverance in the hour of temptation, for help in the time of duty, and for succour in the day of trial. We have been compelled to go to God for our souls, as constant beggars asking for everything. Bear witness, children of God, you have never been able to get anything for your souls elsewhere. All the bread your soul has eaten has come down from heaven, and all the water of which it has drank has flowed from the living rock- Christ Jesus the Lord. Your soul has never grown rich in itself; it has always been a pensioner upon the daily bounty of God; and hence your prayers have ascended to heaven for a range of spiritual mercies all but infinite. Your wants were innumerable, and therefore the supplies have been infinitely great, and your prayers have been as varied as the mercies have been countless. Then have you not cause to say, "I love the Lord, because He hath heard the voice of my supplication"? For as your prayers have been many, so also have been God's answers to them. He has heard you in the day of trouble, has strengthened you, and helped you, even when you dishonoured Him by trembling and doubting at the mercy-seat. Remember this, and let it fill your heart with gratitude to God, who has thus graciously heard your poor weak prayers. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits."

An excellent parody of The Matrix recast as Woke.
Runtime 2:31 - Click the link, not the screenshot:
https://t.co/5DyQc7vQXS

*Deep State Senators Tied to Maduro's Narco Cash:

Lisa Murkowski – R – Alaska
Mark Kelly – D – Arizona
Ruben Gallego – D – Arizona
Alex Padilla – D – California
Adam Schiff – D – California
Michael Bennet – D – Colorado
John Hickenlooper – D – Colorado
Richard Blumenthal – D – Connecticut
Chris Murphy – D – Connecticut
Chris Coons – D – Delaware
Jon Ossoff – D – Georgia
Raphael Warnock – D – Georgia
Brian Schatz – D – Hawaii
Mazie Hirono – D – Hawaii
Dick Durbin – D – Illinois
Tammy Duckworth – D – Illinois
Chuck Grassley – R – Iowa
Joni Ernst – R – Iowa
Mitch McConnell – R – Kentucky
Rand Paul – R – Kentucky
Bill Cassidy – R – Louisiana
Susan Collins – R – Maine
Angus King – I – Maine
Chris Van Hollen – D – Maryland
Angela Alsobrooks – D – Maryland
Elizabeth Warren – D – Massachusetts
Ed Markey – D – Massachusetts
Gary Peters – D – Michigan
Elissa Slotkin – D – Michigan
Amy Klobuchar – D – Minnesota
Tina Smith – D – Minnesota
Roger Wicker – R – Mississippi
Bob Fischer – R – Nebraska
Jacky Rosen – D – Nevada
Catherine Cortez Masto – D – Nevada
Jeanne Shaheen – D – New Hampshire
Maggie Hassan – D – New Hampshire
Cory Booker – D – New Jersey
Andy Kim – D – New Jersey
Martin Heinrich – D – New Mexico
Ben Ray Lujan – D – New Mexico
Chuck Schumer – D – New York
Kirsten Gillibrand – D – New York
Thom Tillis – R – North Carolina
James Lankford – R – Oklahoma
Ron Wyden – D – Oregon
Jeff Merkley – D – Oregon
Dave McCormick – R – Pennsylvania
Jack Reed – D – Rhode Island
Sheldon Whitehouse – D – Rhode Island
John Thune – R – South Dakota
John Cornyn – R – Texas
Bernie Sanders – I – Vermont
Peter Welch – D – Vermont
Mark Warner – D – Virginia
Tim Kaine – D – Virginia
Patty Murray – D – Washington
Maria Cantwell – D – Washington
Jim Justice – R – West Virginia
Tammy Baldwin – D – Wisconsin

Pumas (also called panthers, cougars, or mountain lions) are normally solitary cats but scientists are claiming that preying on penguins is altering their behavior of the pumas and making them to be more sociable towards each other and while this might make the reader think at first that there might be something within the penguin flesh that is changing the psychology of the puma from being solitary to gregarious, this does not appear to be the case at all.


It just so happens that the penguins just happen to be much more plentiful than other animals hunted for food and plentiful enough for pumas to hunt within the same territory and vicinity without rivalry or hostility.
https://www.livescience.com/animals/land-mammals/pumas-in-patagonia-started-feasting-on-penguins-but-now-theyre-behaving-strangely-a-new-study-finds

This phenomena is not unique among some species of toads. It is also been known with some species of snakes and lizards as well whose offspring hatch inside of them before being born.
Likewise, the offspring of these toads probably undergo their entire development stage inside of their mothers instead of outside of their mother’s wombs as is the case with most other frogs and toads and likely due to the offspring of this particular species undergoing an accelerated development.
https://www.livescience.com/animals/toads/newly-discovered-toads-skip-the-tadpole-stage-and-give-birth-to-live-toadlets

God’s Word Superior to Man-Made Laws
An Intro to ‘The Movement to Overturn Obergefell’
https://johnhouk.substack.com/p/gods-word-superior-to-man-made-laws

SUMMARY: On June 26, 2015 SCOTUS ruled Same-Sex Marriage legal in a slim 5-4 vote with Obergefell v. Hodges case. This is the classic godless example of the so-called Living Constitution overshadowing the Originalist Constitution ignoring America’s Christian Roots and the overwhelming influence of Christianity upon America’s Founders (yup, even the so-called Deists). … There is an emerging movement to overturn SCOTUS Obergefell v. Hodges based on how Sam-Sex Marriage has been a disaster in subjecting children to Sam-Sex Parenting. …TAKE A LOOK!
#OverturnSameSexParenting #ProtectChildren

I hope you will read Dave Ramsey’s comments about going cashless. It’s a two minute read and NO one has explained it better! Wow
Dave Ramsey repost:
HERE'S WHAT NO CASH ACTUALLY MEANS:
A cashless society means no cash. Zero. It doesn’t mean mostly cashless and you can still use a ‘wee bit of cash here & there’. Cashless means fully digital, fully traceable, fully controlled. I think those who support a cashless society aren’t fully aware of what they are asking for. A cashless society means:
* If you are struggling with your mortgage on a particular month, you can’t do an odd job to get you through.
* Your child can’t go & help the local farmer to earn a bit of summer cash.
* No more cash slipped into the hands of a child as a good luck charm or from their grandparent when going on holidays.
* No more money in birthday cards.
* No more piggy banks for your child to collect pocket money & to learn about the value of earning.
* No more cash for a rainy day fund or for that something special you have been putting $20 a week away for.
* No more little jobs on the side because your wages barely cover the bills or put food on the table.
* No more charity collections.
* No more selling bits & pieces from your home that you no longer want/need for a bit of cash in return.
* No more cash gifts from relatives or loved ones.
What a cashless society does guarantee:
* Banks have full control of every single penny you own.
* Every transaction you make is recorded.
* All your movements & actions are traceable.
* Access to your money can be blocked at the click of a button when/if banks need ‘clarification’ from you which will take about 3 weeks, a thousand questions answered & five thousand passwords.
* You will have no choice but to declare & be taxed on every dollar in your possession.
* The government WILL decide what you can & cannot purchase.
* If your transactions are deemed in any way questionable, by those who create the questions, your money will be frozen, ‘for your own good’.
Forget about cash being dirty. Stop being so easily led. Cash has been around for a very, very, very long time & it gives you control over how you trade with the world. It gives you independence.
If you are a customer, pay with cash. If you are a shop owner, remove those ridiculous signs that ask people to pay by card. Cash is a legal tender, it is our right to pay with cash. Banks are making it increasingly difficult to lodge cash.
Please open your eyes. Please stop believing everything you are being told. Almost every single topic in today’s world is tainted with corruption & hidden agendas.
Pay with cash & please say no to a cashless society while you still have the choice.
Copy and paste to your page if you like!

What's Good for the Goose is Good for the Gander - let's call it Equity...
OR
Don't create laws that you don't want applied to yourself?

"No Sanctuary For Don Lemon: Church arrest tests a conduct-based rule courts applied to Jan. 6: Unauthorized entry is the crime.

(LUTHMANN NOTE: This case strips away the theater and leaves only the law. Don Lemon did not get arrested for his opinions. He got arrested for where he went and what he did. Unauthorized entry is the offense. Full stop. That is the same rule applied to Owen Shroyer after January 6. Different politics. Different building. Same conduct. Shroyer never entered the Capitol, yet he served 60 days in federal prison because he crossed a restricted line. Lemon allegedly crossed one too, inside a private church during worship. Equal justice means equal consequences. If the law still means anything, Lemon should face the same sentence. No sanctuary. No carve-outs. No special rules. This piece is “No Sanctuary For Don Lemon.”)"

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/02/no-sanctuary-don-lemon/

NOTICE: Rant coming!
I've been here over 2 years now. This is not the only social media platform I frequent. I view this platform as an online beach head / lifeboat, a welcome refuge from other platforms that have become too authoritarian / totalitarian or globalist, and as a favorite part of my online buffet crawl. I like some of the variety I find here. And I share, and occasionally engage.

Like any buffet, I bypass many offerings. I prefer meatier, heartier offerings, though I do have a sweet tooth for humor that I'll indulge in. I'm not here to engage in gratuitous disputes. I like open, civil debate and productive discussions where I learn something.

Without naming anyone, I don't much care for belligerent or guilt-tripping promotion. I don't engage in Stockholm Syndrome as either captor or captive. I'll bypass those kind of posts as quickly as the oysters and raisins casserole at the buffet. Pssst, Panhandling isn't a good look.

Rant over. Have a GREAT day!

There are rumors circling that vaccine manufacturer Moderna is now heading for bankruptcy.

https://x.com/ShadowofEzra/status/2015613620512489862?s=20

In 2023, CEO Stephane Bancel said the company would break even in 2026.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/moderna-will-break-even-in-2026-ceo-stephane-bancel-202512311.html?fr=yhssrp_catchall

That's not happening.

They had to change their strategy. In November they took out a $1.5B loan in hopes to now break even by 2028.
https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/moderna-takes-15b-loan-outlines-new-commercial-and-rd-strategy-bid-break-even-2028

Last summer, the company's stock took a huge nosedive after 2025 sales steeply declined.
https://www.newsweek.com/moderna-shares-plunge-steep-2025-sales-decline-2014048

Just last month, Moderna had to pause its clinical trial for BABIES for its new RSV vaccine. The trial was for infants aged 5 months to 8 months. It was paused in July but information only surfaced in December that five cases of severe to very severe lower RSV respiratory tract infection (LRTI) were reported in infants who received the vax. Five of the 6 infants required hospitalization, with 1 needing mechanical ventilation.
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv/pediatric-rsv-vaccine-trials-hold-fda-says

Yes you read that right. Infants received the RSV vax and still got RSV infection. Clearly their jab doesn't work.

For a deep dive on RSV vaccines and WHY they don't work, read my 2-part article The Next Billion Dollar Deal
Part 1: https://drtenpenny.substack.com/p/the-next-billion-dollar-vaccine-deal
Part 2: https://drtenpenny.substack.com/p/the-next-billion-dollar-vaccine-deal-5f0
https://drtenpenny.substack.com/p/rsv-revisited-a

Jeremiah
Chapter 41

1 Now it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, and the princes of the king, even ten men with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they did eat bread together in Mizpah.

2 Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the sword, and slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.

3 Ishmael also slew all the Jews that were with him, even with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were found there, and the men of war.

4 And it came to pass the second day after he had slain Gedaliah, and no man knew it,

5 That there came certain from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, even fourscore men, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and having cut themselves, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring them to the house of the LORD.

6 And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah went forth from Mizpah to meet them, weeping all along as he went: and it came to pass, as he met them, he said unto them, Come to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam.

7 And it was so, when they came into the midst of the city, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah slew them, and cast them into the midst of the pit, he, and the men that were with him.

8 But ten men were found among them that said unto Ishmael, Slay us not: for we have treasures in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey. So he forbare, and slew them not among their brethren.

9 Now the pit wherein Ishmael had cast all the dead bodies of the men, whom he had slain because of Gedaliah, was it which Asa the king had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with them that were slain.

10 Then Ishmael carried away captive all the residue of the people that were in Mizpah, even the king's daughters, and all the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive, and departed to go over to the Ammonites.

11 But when Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done,

12 Then they took all the men, and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the great waters that are in Gibeon.

13 Now it came to pass, that when all the people which were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, then they were glad.

14 So all the people that Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah cast about and returned, and went unto Johanan the son of Kareah.

15 But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men, and went to the Ammonites.

16 Then took Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, from Mizpah, after that he had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, even mighty men of war, and the women, and the children, and the eunuchs, whom he had brought again from Gibeon:

17 And they departed, and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Bethlehem, to go to enter into Egypt,

18 Because of the Chaldeans: for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon made governor in the land.

Good morning everyone - lovely people. I wish you all the best too. To
continue on my blog about the “fear of G-d” I have gleaned from an old book by a Rabbi Nilton Bonder titled
“The Kabbalah of Envy - Transforming Hatred, Anger, and Other Negative Emotions.” Please do not be thrown off by the word Kabbalah. It simply means to dig into hidden meanings and research them out - not the magical red string thinking heard about in the media which is a perversion of the true Kabbalah type commentary on Biblical truths. It’s not some evil abstraction out to get you. It’s an old Hebrew word referring to wisdom that comes with spiritual maturity. This book has been a tough read not translated from the Hebrew comfortably for English speakers. I have gleaned some wonderful Faith ideas from it. So here goes - more on the subject of”Fear of G-d.” And it’s long. Get what you like and discard the rest.

The term “fear of G-d” is not about terror. It’s about having a great intimacy with G-d.
When we are influenced by abstract, subtle principles we can detach ourselves from what we observe in the obvious that doesn’t add up to what we know about Faith and G-d.
What abstract and subtle principles? The causes and effects captured in the term karma, the universal principle of cause and effect, where every action, thought, and word (the cause) creates consequences (the effect) that eventually return to the doer, shaping their destiny. As Scripture states: the principle of sowing and reaping, where actions (causes) directly produce consequences (effects), such as in Galatians 6:7 (“whatever a man sows, that he will also reap”).

To arrive at the “fear of G-d” we need to leave the cult of the god of rewards, the god of necessary, god of power, god of personal veneration (which can be a romanticized element of belief.)
All of that adds up to a symbolic perception of G-d - the idea that things represent other things.
What was the danger of an “idol”? Attributing to “a thing” the power to bless or curse and so veneration of the “thing” was necessary. The nations around Israel in its beginning made things they could see and name that represented what was believed to be their “god.” So Israel was warned - “Do not adopt the practices of the peoples around you.”

We must cast off the fear of others, fear of self, fear of pain and allow ourselves to fear only that which is possible to fear. Fears are not paralyzing emotions, but spur us on to action - mobilizing.

That mobilizing - we do what we know to do that is right. As Scripture tells us how to Love G-d - that first commandment. “If you love Me you will obey Me”
That is the beginning of developing a great intimacy with G-d and is the crown of wisdom.
To obey is becomes another conundrum because our emotions direct us to do what benefits us the most. So we rationalize what we know, “to do” with what we feel should be done for immediate gain.

This shows us where humility is the foundation to grasping the “fear of G-d that becomes wisdom - it’s ankle.
Humility is a deep internalization of our capacity to transform spirituality into a skill that becomes a way of life.
We can live the “Fear of G-d” without a sense of wisdom or any proud awareness of being wise.

To become wise is to be able to erase the fool within us. To become humble is to erase the traces of any wickedness in ourselves. Eliminate jealousy which opens the dimension of envy, aptly described as one of the 7 “deadly sins.” Proverbs 22:4 “The effect of humility is fear of the Lord, wealth, honor, and life.”

To me the “fear of G-d” is a comforting emotion. It’s comforting to know I don’t have to be in control of the world. I don’t have to fear the actions of others because SomeOne bigger than me knows the end of everything from its beginning. And that SomeOne all knowing, tells me to rest in what that end will be even when I don’t understand all the steps leading up to it that might cause me to suffer. Accepting discomfort is necessary to kill “the old man” within us and brings about the realization of a real joy in serving our Beloved Lord. That’s possible to experience even in the face of seeing so much ungodliness in the world. What little bit I can do in the way of right action and prayer is going to have a positive effect I may not see. That just means SomeOne wiser than me sees it and tells me to keep on truck’en on that path of holiness that is a quiet rebellion to any evil inclination.
Holiness - another word we have a hard time relating to because of the enemy out to shame us!
Six characteristics of holiness often cited include humility, love, obedience, self-control (temperance), faithfulness, and purity of heart, reflecting a life SET APART for God,

Beloved brethren, be thankful that our salvation depends not upon our own righteousness. For as Paul wrote to Titus, “He saved us, not on the basis of our deeds done in righteousness” (Tit. 3:5). Likewise, Isaiah, tells us that “all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment” (Isa. 64.6). Isaiah’s description, though appearing mild in the English translation here, is rather appalling.

Yet so is our own righteousness in God’s eyes.

Thank God for the Lord Jesus Christ in whom we are made righteous before God. That righteousness that is accounted because of faith, as it was for Abraham when he believed God (Rom. 4:3). Our righteousness is not a righteousness of our own, but it is that which comes from God on the basis of faith (Phil. 3:9)

More so, Christ is our righteousness. It is His name - “The Lord our righteousness” (Jer. 23:6). Let us therefore be grateful that it does not depend on us, but on Him, who is righteous. Let us remember that the Lord our righteousness saved us, not because of our own righteousness, but despite our own unrighteousness and iniquity, on the basis of His mercy.

Always remember how blessed we are, as David sang, “whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered,” and “to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity!”

——————
Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Morning, January 31

"The Lord our Righteousness." Jeremiah 23:6

It will always give a Christian the greatest calm, quiet, ease, and peace, to think of the perfect righteousness of Christ. How often are the saints of God downcast and sad! I do not think they ought to be. I do not think they would if they could always see their perfection in Christ. There are some who are always talking about corruption, and the depravity of the heart, and the innate evil of the soul. This is quite true, but why not go a little further, and remember that we are "perfect in Christ Jesus." It is no wonder that those who are dwelling upon their own corruption should wear such downcast looks; but surely if we call to mind that "Christ is made unto us righteousness," we shall be of good cheer. What though distresses afflict me, though Satan assault me, though there may be many things to be experienced before I get to heaven, those are done for me in the covenant of divine grace; there is nothing wanting in my Lord, Christ hath done it all. On the cross He said, "It is finished!" and if it be finished, then am I complete in Him, and can rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, "Not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." You will not find on this side heaven a holier people than those who receive into their hearts the doctrine of Christ's righteousness. When the believer says, "I live on Christ alone; I rest on Him solely for salvation; and I believe that, however unworthy, I am still saved in Jesus;" then there rises up as a motive of gratitude this thought- "Shall I not live to Christ? Shall I not love Him and serve Him, seeing that I am saved by His merits?" "The love of Christ constraineth us," "that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto Him which died for them." If saved by imputed righteousness, we shall greatly value imparted righteousness.

NC, check out Ryan Hall's weather forecast.
https://youtu.be/bR74T78y8Bk?si=ez6Rlj1-c1zJGKl3

Europeans brought the black death and small pox over to the Americas but no one ever talks about what was brought back from the Americas to Europe.

[Can’t say that we don’t share each other’s sicknesses and diseases.]
https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/5-500-year-old-human-skeleton-discovered-in-colombia-holds-the-oldest-evidence-yet-that-syphilis-came-from-the-americas?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pushly&utm_campaign=Archaeology

In case anyone wants more insight into how plants breathe in and breathe out.
https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/plants/scientists-watch-microscopic-plant-mouths-breathing-in-real-time-with-palm-sized-tool?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pushly&utm_campaign=All%20Push%20Subscribers

Jeremiah
Chapter 38
VERSES 1-14

1 Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son of Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people, saying,

2 Thus saith the LORD, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live.

3 Thus saith the LORD, This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which shall take it.

4 Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt.

5 Then Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand: for the king is not he that can do any thing against you.

6 Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.

7 Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin;

8 Ebedmelech went forth out of the king's house, and spake to the king, saying,

9 My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city.

10 Then the king commanded Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die.

11 So Ebedmelech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took thence old cast clouts and old rotten rags, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah.

12 And Ebedmelech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah, Put now these old cast clouts and rotten rags under thine armholes under the cords. And Jeremiah did so.

13 So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.

14 Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is in the house of the LORD: and the king said unto Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me.

JEREMIAH
CHAPTER .36
VS 17-32

17 And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How didst thou write all these words at his mouth?

18 Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book.

19 Then said the princes unto Baruch, Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah; and let no man know where ye be.

20 And they went in to the king into the court, but they laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the ears of the king.

21 So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll: and he took it out of Elishama the scribe's chamber. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes which stood beside the king.

22 Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him.

23 And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.

24 Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.

25 Nevertheless Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll: but he would not hear them.

26 But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet: but the LORD hid them.

27 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying,

28 Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned.

29 And thou shalt say to Jehoiakim king of Judah, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast?

30 Therefore thus saith the LORD of Jehoiakim king of Judah; He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David: and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost.

31 And I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against them; but they hearkened not.

32 Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many like words.

Brethren, on what do you set your sights daily? Is your aim success as the world defines it? Is it leisure? Perhaps it is more simple, more stoic, to “live and let live” as they say.

Forget not, we are but sojourners here; our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20). And so should be our focus.

Jesus exhorted that where our treasure is, so would our hearts be (Mt. 6:21). So Paul exhorts that we look not at those things visible and temporal, but we see beyond to those things which are invisible and eternal, we look to “the things which are not seen” (2 Cor. 4:18).

Do not let that which is around you distract you from the goal. Run the race “in such a way that you may win” (1 Cor. 9:24). We have not been left without guidance to wander aimless in this world. We have God’s word, we know what lies ahead, and we know how to get there. So, “as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul” (1 Pet. 2:11). Discipline yourself so that you will not be “disqualified” (1 Cor. 9:27). Present yourself as a living and holy sacrifice to the one true God, and be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Rom. 12:1-2).

Never weary of doing the Lord’s work (1 Cor. 15:58). Then in the end, we shall receive an imperishable wreath (1 Cor. 9:25), an “unfading crown of glory” (1 Pet. 5:4), and be blessed to hear the words from our Lord, “well done, good and faithful servant” (Mt. 25:21).

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Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Morning, January 29

"The things which are not seen." 2 Corinthians 4:18

In our Christian pilgrimage it is well, for the most part, to be looking forward. Forward lies the crown, and onward is the goal. Whether it be for hope, for joy, for consolation, or for the inspiring of our love, the future must, after all, be the grand object of the eye of faith. Looking into the future we see sin cast out, the body of sin and death destroyed, the soul made perfect, and fit to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light. Looking further yet, the believer's enlightened eye can see death's river passed, the gloomy stream forded, and the hills of light attained on which standeth the celestial city; he seeth himself enter within the pearly gates, hailed as more than conqueror, crowned by the hand of Christ, embraced in the arms of Jesus, glorified with Him, and made to sit together with Him on His throne, even as He has overcome and has sat down with the Father on His throne. The thought of this future may well relieve the darkness of the past and the gloom of the present. The joys of heaven will surely compensate for the sorrows of earth. Hush, hush, my doubts! death is but a narrow stream, and thou shalt soon have forded it. Time, how short- eternity, how long! Death, how brief- immortality, how endless! Methinks I even now eat of Eshcol's clusters, and sip of the well which is within the gate. The road is so, so short! I shall soon be there.

"When the world my heart is rending
With its heaviest storm of care,
My glad thoughts to heaven ascending,
Find a refuge from despair.
Faith's bright vision shall sustain me
Till life's pilgrimage is past;
Fears may vex and troubles pain me,
I shall reach my home at last."

A reminder that though DEI departments, positions, and offices may be eliminated from the federal government, they may continue to persist at state and local government levels and within the private sector and as long as that remains the case, the fight against DEI practices will not be over.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/jan/27/republican-attorneys-general-urge-costco-jump-dei-/